On Monday, Rev. Malvyn Ahmad Rashad Berry, Father Larry Christian, Bishop Robert Hibbs, Elder Hilary Shuford, Rabbi Samuel Stahl, Bishop Ray Tiemann and Rev. Virgilio Vasquez-Garza shared their views on capital crimes and their corresponding punishments in an event sponsored by the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

The leaders would “engage in a critical dialogue with each other – and with the public – about the death penalty,” a TCABP news release stated. But instead of engaging in a dialogue, the rabbi and six church leaders did much more patting each other on the back in agreement.

During the two-hour event, which drew a crowd of about 75 people, the leaders spoke vehemently against the death penalty, sharing personal experiences of their own that led them to conclude that executing convicted killers is wrong.

“It’s state-sanctioned murder, and murder is immoral,” said Shuford, the Executive Presbyter of Mission Presbytery. “I believe in the sanctity of human life. Innocent persons are being put to death, and that is intolerable.”

Shuford’s comments were echoed among the panelists, who also said that a disproportionate number of black and poor inmates are put to death. Even during a 30-minute question-and-answer period, the questions selected were supportive of the death penalty — two cards submitted by an Express-News reporter that questioned the panelists’ views were overlooked. Also ignored were the views of other religious sects who may disagree with the panelists’ opinions.

It was only after Bishop Oscar Cantu’s closing remarks ended the event that leaders answered questions contrary to their points of view, in private discussions instead of in the public forum. The elephant in the room, the concept that many convicted killers did indeed commit heinous crimes against innocent victims, was ignored until then, and leaders also failed to mention the pending execution of Frank Garcia, convicted of killing his 21-year-old wife and a San Antonio policeman, set to die Thursday.

An actual discussion may have helped attendees understand the wide variety of views on the death penalty, an extremely decisive question in our society.

Cantu said he and the panelists would prefer life without parole instead of a death sentence for convicted killers, but also expressed doubt that rehabilitation is a one-size-fits-all solution.

“I don’t believe everyone will be practically rehabilitated to reenter society,” Cantu said. “But we must recognize the invaluable dignity in every person.”

—Eva Ruth Moravec covers crime and law enforcement for the Express-News